Clowes Developments’ 20-acre Stud Brook Business Park in Castle Donington has taken another major step forward after being granted unconditional planning consent for a Sainsbury’s convenience store and a Starbucks drive through.
The mixed-use scheme will include employment, amenity, office and industrial units for sale or let ranging in size from 1,500 to 45,000 sq ft. Phase one development has already begun on units 2-7. Lead contractor TanRo are expecting to deliver the units to their new occupiers by Q1 2025.
Gaining consent for the business park’s roadside convenience stores is a significant success for the development, with a 4,300 sq ft facility for Sainsbury’s and a 2,000 sq ft Starbucks drive through store.
The new Sainsbury’s Local will create 18 new jobs in-store, and the retailer will help support good causes in the community, for example by redistributing surplus food from the store locally to those who need it most via its partnership with Neighbourly.
James Richards, development director at Clowes Developments, said: “After a period of extensive assessments with East Midlands Airport and a thorough planning application process with North West Leicestershire District Council, it is great to finally start constructing Stud Brook Business Park.
“Sainsbury’s is a nationally recognised convenience store which will be an asset to the development. Since Sainsbury’s agreed the lease, the unit has been sold to a private pension fund.”
Clowes have committed to constructing the c-stores with a minimum BREEAM standard of ‘very good’ and an EPC rating of ‘A’ in line with the group’s environment, social and governance strategy for new buildings.
Clowes have commissioned Roe Developments as the lead construction contractor for this part of the business park. It is expected that the building will be handed over to Sainsburys by Spring 2025 when they will start their fit-out process.
Tim Gilbertson of FHP said: “I’m delighted to have acted for Clowes here and secure Starbucks as a new occupier on the site. This amenity will help us dispose of the planned industrial and distribution units, which are already going ahead at great pace, and we have any number under offer even though we are still some months from practical completion.
“Having such facilities on site together with the planned Sainsbury’s unit can only assist us in providing facilities for staff and occupiers alike encouraging yet more interest in Stud Brook Business Park.”
Tom Cullen of Colliers, acting on behalf of Sainsburys, said: “It was a pleasure to work with FHP and Clowes on this exciting convenience store opportunity. This is one of a number of high-profile Sainsburys deals we have coming forward in the East Midlands area and we continue to seek great shops in great location.”
Richard Sutton of NG Chartered Surveyors added: “My congratulations go to Tim for bringing Starbucks to Stud Brook; the deal is a real coup for the development and I’m sure will be the catalyst for more good things to follow.”
